The NPP Minority Stages a Walkout After Speaker Bagbin Orders Samuel Jinapor Out of the Chamber

According to an official Facebook Post by Citizen Vigilante on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus in Parliament staged a walkout following a heated confrontation involving the Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, Majority Leader James Agalga and Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin.

The post, accompanied by a video of the parliamentary proceedings, captured the dramatic scenes that unfolded during the sitting, following disagreements over allegations concerning the sale of Ghanaian diplomatic passports.

The controversy began when Samuel Abu Jinapor, who is also the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, alleged that diplomatic passports were being sold for amounts ranging between US$10,000 and US$50,000. He called for investigations into the alleged practice, raising concerns about the integrity of the processes governing the issuance of diplomatic travel documents.

However, his allegations were immediately challenged by Majority Leader James Agalga, who demanded that the Damongo MP substantiate his claims with evidence or withdraw them from the parliamentary record.

The disagreement subsequently attracted the attention of Speaker Alban Bagbin, who directed Jinapor to provide evidence supporting his allegations or retract the statement. Despite the Speaker’s intervention, the exchange between the two continued, creating tension in the chamber.

Following the prolonged disagreement, Jinapor eventually withdrew the allegation. However, Speaker Bagbin ordered the Parliamentary Marshal to escort him out of the chamber, citing his failure to comply promptly with the earlier directive.

The Speaker’s decision immediately provoked a reaction from members of the NPP Minority Caucus, who considered the action unfair. In a show of solidarity with their colleague, the Minority MPs rose from their seats and walked out of the chamber.

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin subsequently criticised the Speaker’s handling of the matter, describing the decision to remove Jinapor as harsh, high-handed and unfair. He argued that the allegations raised by the Damongo MP could have been referred for further investigation rather than resulting in his removal from the chamber.

The incident comes amid growing disagreements between the Majority and Minority over the issuance of diplomatic and service passports, with the NPP demanding greater transparency regarding the eligibility of some beneficiaries and the authorities responsible for approving the documents.

Interestingly, the parliamentary confrontation occurred on the same day the NPP organised its Yɛgye Yɛn Sika demonstration in Accra, demanding accountability over the expenditure associated with the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa.

The events of the day have added another dimension to the political disagreements between the two sides of Parliament, with questions surrounding accountability, parliamentary procedure and the conduct of lawmakers dominating discussions.

The walkout has once again brought attention to the increasingly tense relationship between the Majority and Minority caucuses and the challenges of maintaining constructive debate within Ghana’s Parliament.

Source: Citizen Vigilante, Official Facebook Post, 3 November 2026.

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